Practice Begins
"You're nuts! What were you thinking?!" yelled Arlene over the phone and I replied rolling my eyes," Don't you think you're over exaggerating?" she said just a tad quieter," No, I don't think I'm over exaggerating. A day ago you refused to have anything to do with Percy! Now you're helping him practice!" Sam called and I put him on too.
"Sam, tell Kylie she's crazy." She told Sam and he asked, "Why?" I explained what had happened earlier and he laughed darkly," You. Are. Screwed." "Thanks for the support." I replied to hi sarcastically, and I could imagine him smirking," Hey, I speak what's on my mind." "Kylie, the tacos are ready!" yelled my mom and I quickly told them," Got to go, it's taco night!"
The next morning I gave it to Percy and he just slipped it into his backpack and for once he didn't say anything. I looked at him cautiously, Percy was never quiet. Was that a bruise on his neck? He saw me looking and pulled up his jacket. Something was up with him, that he didn't want anyone to know.
At lunch walked over to me and told me," After I watch the movie I'll leave it on your steps with a note on which song I want to sing. Then we can figure out where we're going to practice." I saw all the pairs of eyes that were watching us," Uh… you couldn't tell me this at the bus stop?" Percy shrugged and walked away and I saw Arlene looking at him like he was rotting fish.
After school at around five I heard the doorbell ring and I went downstairs to check who it was and no one was there. I glanced down; the DVD was there with a note on it,
I thought the Mirror would be good, it's not too long and I thought it would be a good duet.
-Percy
Wait a second! Who said we were going to be doing a duet?! I asked myself and I angrily pushed the DVD back onto the shelf, Arlene called," Did he bring back the movie, because if he didn't there is going to be a dead boy tonight?!" I laughed," Yeah he returned it; apparently we're doing a duet." Arlene sighed and replied," Whatever just remember; I warned you about that boy."
Almost a second after she hung up the phone rang, "Hello?"" Is this Kylie?" asked Percy and I told him," Yeah, how'd you get my number?"" I still had it written down," then he (thankfully) switched subjects," so I was thinking we could practice at my house. My dad isn't going to be home so we won't have to worry about that and I don't want to sound like a dying walrus out in public."
I tried to think of a different response other than," What! No! In your dreams pretty boy!" I sighed and told him," Sure, is tomorrow good for you?"" Yup, I only have swimming practice on Saturdays." I hung up then and pushed the thought of telling Arlene about this, she'd go straight to Percy and smack him in the face if I told her about this.
At dinner I thought of a way to ask mom if I could go to his house without mentioning Percy's name. See my mom is still gaga over Percy and if I mention his name she starts asking question about him that I don't want to answer or don't know. It's just easier if I don't bring him up.
"So mom a friend of mine asked if I could over to their house tomorrow, can I go?" Mom with her hair always in a tight bun and perfect posture replied raising an eye brow," What's their name?"" I call them P."" Why? Do they have to pee a lot?" Uh-oh, I hadn't thought of that one," Uh…no mom they do not have to pee a lot. That's just their initials." She sighed," Alright, but you know my rules be back by dinner."
That was easier than I thought.
When school was over the next day we got off and I crossed my arms," Lead the way." He frowned," What you don't remember where I live." I bit my lip," Honestly the last few years I've managed to forget." Percy shrugged as if saying, "Fair enough."
We walked almost to the end of the four houses on my street and Percy said fake enthusiasm," Welcome to my prison-oops I meant house." As soon as he opened the door the smell of alcohol and cigarettes hit me like a wall.
The smell was probably the best thing about it though. It looked like a bar had sent all of its garbage into the house, because,
There were loads of empty beer bottles and
There was unknown foods in some odd places
I hadn't looked where I was walking and I tripped on a beer bottle and in the middle of falling I managed to knock over a chair, Percy helped me up," Sorry-" I was cut off by some crashing upstairs before I knew what was happening Percy shoved me into a closet and whispered urgently," Stay here and don't make a sound!" He shut the door but I could still see somewhat through a small crack.
A beefy man stumbled down the stairs and I knew he was the one who made all the mess, he looked mid-forties, was super scary back in his hay day but could still beat up anyone without breaking a sweat, needed to shave badly, and reeked of beer.
"What the hell is going on?!" he roared at Percy, Percy replied," I accidentally tripped and knocked down the chair." Before I could have blinked the ma had his fingers around Percy throat," Don't mess with my stuff boy!" Percy was now gasping for air and the man let go, Percy feel on the ground clutching his throat," I'm going to the bar, you know your punishment if you leave the house!" With that the man stumbled out of the room and Percy uneasily stood up.
That whole time I had my hand over my mouth to make sure I wouldn't scream. "I'm sorry you had to see that." Percy muttered opening the closet and he was standing up at his full height," Why are apologizing?!" His face was cold as ice," It's fine-"" Percy don't you dare say that! He was choking you!" I don't know why but I had tears in my eyes.
Suddenly a feeling washed over me, it made sense why he'd changed like that. I was ashamed of how I acted to him all these years," I'm sorry of how I've aced all stuck up…" I couldn't meet his eyes so I stared at my feet, Percy spoke quietly," I would've acted the same way." He gently lifted my chin so I'd look at him," Look can I ask you one more favor?" I nodded slowly and he continued," Please don't tell anyone, I've survived this since I was eleven I can deal with a couple more years."
I nodded slowly and Percy started to lightly laugh," Well this has been an interesting turn of events." Yes it has.